Course Content and Outcome Guide for BI 200A

Course Number:

BI 200A

Course Title:

Principles of Ecology: Field Biology

Credit Hours:

2

Lecture Hours:

10

Lecture/Lab Hours:

20

Lab Hours:

0

Special Fee:

$6.00

Course Description

Introduction to concepts of ecology. Includes lecture component covering the concepts of ecology and diversity of life and a field component surveying plants, animals, or other kingdoms, and interactions with their environment. May involve national or international travel. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

To clarify the teaching of evolution and its place in the classroom, the Portland Community College Biology Departments stand by the following statements about what is science and how the theory of evolution is the major organizing theory in the discipline of the biological sciences.

Science is a fundamentally non-dogmatic and self-correcting investigatory process. In science, a theory is neither a guess, dogma, nor myth. The theories developed through scientific investigation are not decided in advance, but can be and often are modified and revised through observation and experimentation. The theory of evolution meets the criteria of a scientific theory. In contrast, creation "science" is neither self-examining nor investigatory. Creation "science" is not considered a legitimate science, but a form of religious advocacy. This position is established by legal precedence (Webster v. New Lenox School District #122, 917 F. 2d 1004).

Biology instructors of Portland Community College will teach the theory of evolution not as absolute truth but as the most widely accepted scientific theory on the diversity of life. We, the Biology Subject Area Committee at Portland Community College, therefore stand with such organizations as the National Association of Biology Teachers in opposing the inclusion of pseudo-sciences in our science curricula.

Intended Outcomes for the course

After completion of this course, students should be able to: A. Appreciate the natural history of a field site based upon basic exposure to content knowledge based on the site. B. use the scientific method for experimental design in the field, data collection, and presentations of results and conclusions C. analyze their individual thinking and learning styles and how their styles can be integrated with methods used in science; D. discover and investigate major themes in biology; E. apply biological principles and generalizations to novel problems; F. practice application of biological information in their lives (personal, work, and career); G. develop informed positions or opinions on contemporary issues; H. communicate effectively in verbal and written formats

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes and Concepts may include any subset of the following: The distribution and adaptations of organisms Population ecology Community ecology Ecosystem ecology Human Ecology Evolution by natural selection Population genetics Survey of biodiversity Taxonomy and the use of dichotomous keys Phylogenetic reconstruction Plant anatomy and ecophysiology Animal anatomy and ecophysiology Issues: Biology 200 is relevant to many contemporary issues, such as, effects of pollution, how humans impact food webs and ecosystems, dwindling biodiversity, global warming, acid rain, overpopulation, etc. Competencies and Skills: Use field and laboratory techniques and equipment, for example, run transects, use of GIS, field identification of taxa, specimen collections, etc. Locate and access biological information relevant to area of study Think critically Collaborate with peers -- work effectively in groups Articulate scientific processes in written and/or oral format Present data using the scientific format Present conclusions logically Read scientific literature Apply the scientific method